Forged from a long history of oral tradition, folktales, and slave narratives, African American literature evolved into its current incarnation out of a fiery crucible of prejudice, institutionalized racism, and the crushing yoke of slavery. Battling the racist legacy of invisibility,... [more]
Forged from a long history of oral tradition, folktales, and slave narratives, African American literature evolved into its current incarnation out of a fiery crucible of prejudice, institutionalized racism, and the crushing yoke of slavery. Battling the racist legacy of invisibility, the African American writer has been forced to develop unique strategies to claim exclusive ownership of a distinctive cultural voice.
The first published novel by a black writer was 1863's 'Clothel; Or, the President's Daughter.' African American literature continued to expand, from W.E.B. DuBois's turn-of-the-century apologetics to the Harlem Renaissance's breakthrough celebration of ethnic and racial pride. The impact of African American literature grew in the postwar era, with writers such as James Baldwin and Alex Haley arriving in classrooms and living rooms across the country. Today, some of the most respected and popular literary artists in the world -- including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker -- continue to win accolades and awards with their works. The African American literary genius has only begun to be tapped.
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